The Plattsburgers

The Plattsburgers - Page Text Content

BC: About a year later, Deans received a letter telling him that Barge had passed away. Deans was saddened by this and went to the funeral to pay his respects. The passing of Barge made Deans upset because he influenced his career and was like a father to Deans.

FC: Norman Rockwell Painting: The Plattsburgers

1: By: Sam Driffill

2: Norman Rockwell's Original Painting

3: Corporal Deans awoke at 4 a.m. His commanding officer was shouting at the whole platoon to get up, but for some reason he was picking on Deans the most. He never really talked to anyone and kept to himself but still his commanding officer hated him. His officer’s name was Lt. Gen. Barge and for some reason did not like Deans the most. He was chosen to wash the floors, do the laundry, and even make his bed just to have Barge mess it up if a sheet or cover is slightly out of place.

5: Barge started waking Deans up every day before the rest of the platoon. Eventually Deans got tired of being treated so unequal that he had a talk with Barge one day.

6: “Gen. Barge, I keep to myself all the time and do not bother anyone, yet you punish me for the wrongs of others, what did I do, Sir?” Deans said.

7: Barge responded, “I have nothing against you Corporal, but a man who keeps to himself is not a man of war, your platoon is your family and family members don’t keep to themselves, if you want to be alone, you will be punished and treated differently than the rest of this platoon. Until you start contributing and getting to know your family, you are not a part of my platoon Corporal.”

9: From that day on, Corporal Deans was involved in everything and got to sleep in a bit later sometimes. He was finally a part of his family, and he actually liked it. Gen. Barge saw a little bit of himself in Corporal Deans. That is why he treated him differently because he knew that if he treated Deans how his old Gen. treated him, then maybe Deans could lead a platoon one day, and he did. Five years later Deans was a Gen. and lead a whole platoon. He knows that if Barge hadn’t treated him how he did, he would not be the great general that he is today. Looking back, Deans wasn’t pleased with how he was treated, but he knows that Barge ended up making him a better man, and an accomplished general.